Mission 21 focuses the church on ministry for the 21st Century. The themes for the quadrennium highlight the mission of the church. The theme for 1999 is Vision for Mission. We must have a clear vision of what God is doing and how we can align ourselves with His purpose today.
The times are too crucial and the mission is too important for the church to conduct business as usual. We must see clearly the future God has for the International Pentecostal Holiness Church. This VisionCare material, developed by the Mission 21 team, will help the local church examine its eyesight and correct its vision. The teaching sessions and workshops are designed to sharpen the vision of the local church to see and accomplish God’s mission of evangelism for the church.
What is your church’s vision? Does it see clearly the ripened harvest? Peter calls for the church to examine its vision and to improve its sight. He speaks of the church being “shortsighted, even to blindness” (2 Peter 1:9). Some churches may have excellent vision. They understand who they are and their mission in Christ. Others need to improve their vision. VisionCare will write the prescription for clear vision.
Our Lord calls “lift up your eyes and look at the fields for they are already white for harvest” (John 4:35). Listen to His words as you pursue this study. Hear Him calling the church to open its eyes to the ripened harvest. If we see clearly who we are and the great work of evangelism God has given to us, we will become a Great Commission Church.
It is our prayer that the mission of multiplying believers and churches will become the passion of every local church in the denomination. God help us see the world as Jesus sees it and move to “seek and save the lost”.
The day I wrote this introduction, I was attending a Mission America Solemn Assembly in St. Louis. I listened to Wesley Duvell pray over and over, “Lord, give us eyes to see the church as you intend it to be.” Let that be our prayer for the Pentecostal Holiness Church.
